Viable SARS-CoV-2 Shedding Under Remdesivir and Dexamethasone Treatment

    March 2022 in “ Journal of Infection ”
    Jin Gu Yoon, Jin Sae Yoo, Jungmin Lee, Hakjun Hyun, Hye Seong, Ji Yun Noh, Hee Jin Cheong, Woo Joo Kim, Young Rong Kim, Jung Yeon Heo, Joon‐Yong Bae, Chunguang Cui, SoHyun Lee, Man‐Seong Park, Joon Young Song
    TLDR Infectious virus was not found after the third remdesivir dose, suggesting early end of isolation is possible.
    This study investigated the duration of viable SARS-CoV-2 shedding in 48 hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir and dexamethasone. It found that infectious virus was not detected after the third dose of remdesivir, despite ongoing dexamethasone treatment. SARS-CoV-2 shedding significantly decreased following remdesivir treatment, independent of the cycle threshold (Ct) value from RT-PCR tests. The rapid antigen test (RAT) was effective in guiding decisions to end isolation, with a high negative predictive value of 98.2% for detecting viable viruses. The study suggested that early de-isolation could be considered after remdesivir treatment, even in severe cases.
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